Variable-Angle Restricting Plate for Conveying Amount Adjustment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional conveying devices in combination weighing apparatuses face challenges in efficiently adjusting the conveying amount of articles, as existing technologies require multiple restricting plates of different shapes and materials, leading to high costs and reduced operating efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A conveying device with a variable-angle restricting plate that can be adjusted to control the flow of articles, eliminating the need for multiple plates by rotating and positioning the plate to alter the gap between the trough and the restricting plate, allowing for precise adjustment of the conveying amount.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If passage width restricting members with different shapes and materials are exchanged to adjust conveying amount, then versatility is improved, but cost increases and operating efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveversatilityVSAvoidoperating efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The restricting plate is made rotatable about a vertical axis, allowing its angle relative to the conveyance direction to be dynamically adjusted. This dynamic adjustment replaces the need for exchanging multiple static restricting plates with different shapes, enabling one plate to perform multiple adjustment functions and eliminating downtime for plate changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The conveying amount is adjusted by changing the angular parameter of the restricting plate rather than by physical exchange of components. By rotating the plate to different angles, the effective passage width is modified, providing continuous adjustability without requiring multiple discrete plates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple passage width restricting members are prepared for exchange, then versatility is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveversatilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single restricting plate is designed to perform multiple functions by rotating to different angles. The same plate can restrict flow at various degrees, replacing the need for multiple specialized plates. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components required and simplifies the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The restricting plate incorporates rotational capability, transforming a static component into a dynamic one. This allows one component to assume the roles of multiple static components, reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If passage width restricting members are exchanged for all troughs, then conveying amount adjustment is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying amount adjustmentVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Each restricting plate can be independently rotated to the required angle without waiting for other plates to be exchanged. This dynamic adjustment capability eliminates the sequential time loss associated with exchanging plates in multiple troughs, allowing parallel or independent adjustment of each conveying device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The restricting plates can be pre-set to specific angles during installation or maintenance, and then quickly adjusted during operation by simple rotation. This preliminary positioning reduces the time required for frequent adjustments during production operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution reduces the need for multiple plates, lowers costs, and enhances operational efficiency by allowing easy adjustment of the conveying amount, enabling the use of large-size apparatuses for small-scale weighing tasks.

Implementation Method 1

a restricting plate 4 to restrict a flow of articles in the trough 2 in the conveyance direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a vibrator to cause the trough to vibrate along a prescribed angle of elevation and to cause the articles in the trough to advance in jumps

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3543662B1Combination weighing apparatus having a conveying device
Publication Date: 2022.07.06 ISHIDA CO LTD
  • EP3543662B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3543662B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3543662B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel conveying device with which it is possible to easily adjust a conveying amount of articles in a trough using a restricting plate, and a combination weighing apparatus having the conveying device. A conveying device (1) to convey articles in a trough (2) has a restricting plate (4) to restrict a flow of the articles in the trough and the angle at which the restricting plate faces the articles is variable. With this configuration, there is no need to prepare a plurality of restricting plates that have different shapes and materials or to exchange such a plurality of restricting plates in the same manner as in a conventional device because the conveying amount in the trough can be adjusted merely by varying the angle at which the restricting plate faces the articles.